I started out looking at early 90's corvettes, rx-8s, whatever. My parents wanted me to get preferably a 2001+ car with 4 star or better ratings. I found out about s2000s and started looking into them, joined s2kca about 3-4 years ago. My parents were against the idea of me getting a manual but I convinced my dad to make a deal with me. I had to drive his toyota rav4 to school until I was 17. I had no problem with this because I was greatly paranoid my car would be broken into at school and such. So after a year and a half of researching into the car I finally got around to being 17 and searching for a used s2000 to buy. The first 2 I looked at were wrecked, one owner from s2ki admitted it because it was either me or the stealership and he was in a rush so he went with the stealership which in hindsight is lucky for me.
I ended up with a pretty good deal on an '04 with 36k miles (Now almost 48k 2 years later). Its never been in a wreck, and I've some crazy close calls with idiot high schoolers and such, but luckily the only damage it has is some curb rash. I've payed about 1/3 of my car and realize how lucky I am to have a dad who will pay for stuff like a car so I take every opportunity to take care of his cars for him keeping them clean as if they were mine. He really dislikes cars now after being in a wreck and rides a bike and the bus to work, but I figure I can keep his cars looking really nice for 10+ years to help keep their value and make it so he doesn't worry about washing them and what not.
I absolutely love my s2000. I chose a car because I like having my own style, and every 1/30 kids in high school drove a mustang and there were multiple 350zs and all there too. I wanted a car that was different, not overkill powerful, and it doesn't have to be fast in a straight line. I got talked shit to constantly by mustang owners who had no clue about my car except their mustang was a v6 and my car only had 4 cylinders!!! Oh it must be so slow right?
I really could care less what they own, I don't talk crap about their cars and they felt a need to talk crap about mine. I have nothing to prove to such ignorant children. You should appreciate in high school you have "Something with four wheels and drives" as kids say.
I think its a poor decision to buy kids fast cars honestly. Kids are kids, they will street race and be idiots. I am definitely a good driver, but I will tell anyone that I am in reality a terrible driver because I have yet to track my car or autocross. My dad doesn't want me risking the car doing such things and I respect that and will wait to college. I love everything about my s2000, I love how low to the ground it sits (everyone complains about that getting in), I love the handling, I love the deeper sound with a K&N FIPK, I love averaging 26 mpg city and highway mix.
To me the s2000 will always be my first car, and I do not believe 99% of kids could handle this car. They can not appreciate the japanese engineering, the amazing 4 cylinder, the excellent handling (which will mislead them to believing this car is not tail happy to unexpereinced drivers), they especially can not appreciate this car come in a manual (thank god that repels kids ).
It is a gateway car, if I buy a brand new car in the future rather it be a ford taurus or a lotus elise, I will keep it looking like its brand new from the dealership. I love my car and I see working on it and maintaining it properly as a fun hobby. However I would have more knowledge if I drove something like a rx-7 or 1992 Mustang Fox Body that constantly broke down. All I do on my s2000 is simple mods and change the fluids.

Long Story short: Kids should only drive s2000s if they can fully appreciate their fathers for what they did for them. Sure the kid next door drives a mercedes, but you drive a higher insurance car that is likely better in many ways. Kids should also realize they aren't professional race car drivers and keep it toned down on the streets. The highway is not a track. That's what the drag strip is for. The adrenaline comes from risking your life and those around you.

 

Like anything, it all depends on the person in question.

I got my car 5 years ago when I was 16. I have never had an accident, I have never done any ricer-esque things to the car, and I maintain the car to the best of my ability (people often think it is new)

You give the car to some 16 year olds and it will be wrapped around a tree next week.

Though, you can give the car to some 26 year olds and they will wrap it around a tree just as quickly.

 

i got my s2 when i was 18 as well, and before that had a 98civic hatch with a k20a(jap spec) swap. built the civic myself. The S is much nicer and i sold the civc for it and never regret it. I got the civic 100% stock when i was 15 lol didn't even have a license, my parents bought it for me i paid for everything else.

 

Great story bro, dont know if i have commented on this before but i really loved it. I am 18 and want to buy an s2000 myself too. I will be paying it all myself, and you mentioned wetdreams? When I saw the GTR in videos I really had one about it, aaaaaaaaaaaaahhahaha lmao, I woke up and was like WTF. ;P

 

And btw, this forum and all the members of it have really thought me respect for the cars eventhough,I have always been a car lover, a car enthusiast and since I was 12 I loved helping my dad with his cars when he needed. Now I am in an autoshop class.

And as far as drivng like a maniac is concerned, well I was in Pakistan and started driving when I was like 13. lol so all the crap is out of my system and have been a good driver since i turned 17.

 

[QUOTE=AliGhanizad,Sep 18 2010, 10:27 PM]And btw, this forum and all the members of it have really thought me respect for the cars eventhough,I have always been a car lover,

 

this thread is getting stupid. i don't understand why people have to keep coming in to tell everyone that they're "different." Nobody cares that you were given a sports car at 16 and never took it 1 mph over the speed limit. chances are you're lying and if not, teens that act like that are so few and far between it's not even relevant. parents need to grow some balls and teach their kids to be responsible. if they really want to throw money at their kids it should be in driver training.

 

I don't see where someone said they don't speed. I have a rule of +7 in the city, cops around here won't usually pull you over for driving 7 mph over the speed limit, and if your directly by a cop you can drive 3 mph over the speed limit without worrying.
You are the one making this thread stupider with ignorance . Driver training? So what you want me to like go back to being 15 getting my permit? Why would my dad pay for me to take driving school twice when I passed with flying colors the first time. You so funny

 

What is that supposed to mean? Lol dumb question

 

I am poking you with a stick. Good Driver > Great Driver > Awesome Skilled Driver > Track Driver > Professional Race Car driver.
I am a good driver because I only somewhat understand understeer and oversteer. I would not be able to properly control my car in the event of skidding likely.